TripSailor.com® Sailing Blogs

Calm and bright day to attempt lift out. Stripped foresails, sheets and halyards. Bitterly disappointed to find ‘25 ton’ hoist could not lift Amber Sand. Will have to look elsewhere for the winter’s hard standing. Andy came over to take us to Green Rigg so for the first time in over two years we left Amber Sand to sleep ashore.

Cold front blew blustery showers through at gale force; lift out postponed. Just managed to bag the mainsail.

The wind rose to gale force making preparations for a lift out nigh impossible. Particularly frustrating!

Made enquiries of the marina staff about the possibility of wintering Amber Sand in the hardstanding compound.  Although at a higher cost than expected, everything looked and sounded right for us from  a friendly and enthusiastic team.  A tight traditional small town centre but, like Broadford, only a Coop for shopping.

Set sail early to catch the ebb across Luce Bay to Burrow Head then used the flood to cross the Solway Firth towards Whitehaven on the forecast SSW5.  As we lost sight of Scotland at midday, the wind backed and freshened until we were churning along with half a jib, missing Whitehaven, heading for Workington, settling to bear away for Maryport. Celebrated our return to England with a Chinese takeaway!

Windless day of thick fog.  Neglected to check for greater tidal range: grounded at Low Water again.  Successfully re-anchored in the recommended position.  

The southerlies were finally edged away as we welcomed a light northerly to carry us across the North Channel.  Fell short of the Mull of Galloway as the tide turned and had to claw through the ebb race to reach East Tarbert Bay anchorage.  Failed to dig in safe water, risked a marginal depth, caught out at Low Water.  Tried to re-anchor with the CQR after floating free: no joy. Motored up the coast at midnight to Drummore to try an alternative anchorage.  Eventually dug in with the Bruce.

Squeezed into the  tender to motor ashore to the Blue Circle BC.  Caught the train back to Larne, wandered the High Street/Main Street, bought internet time at the library, shopped at B&M,  Lidl and Asda.

Agitated by the wind against tide off Larne and an imminent gale forecast, opted to cross to Magheramorne Bay on the southern bank of the Lough.  Difficult to spot the leading marks for the channel with nothing to spare outside it.  Offered a mooring upon arrival again.

Stretched our legs with the walk through Glenarm Forest: bucolic views tinted by the onset of autumn. Departed after lunch to motor on the flood up to Larne where we gratefully accepted the offer of a mooring from the East Antrim BC launch